<a href="http://www.simondale.net/house/why.htm">Simon Dale</a> proves that you don't have to be an architect to design and build a beautiful, cozy, low-energy home. With £3,000, a few simple tools, and a little help from his father-in-law and friends, Simon constructed an extraordinary hobbit home that has virtually no visual or environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Using locally-sourced and natural materials taken from the nearby woodlands, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-attends-an-inspiring-and-soggy-woodland-design-lab-camping-trip-in-wales/">a common practice among designers in Wales</a>, alternative energy sources, and a lot of imagination, the self-styled builder has created a gentle, naturally-lit family home that exists in total harmony with nature.

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Simondale Hobbit House

Simon Dale proves that you don't have to have a PhD in Architecture to design and build a beautiful, low-energy home

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Simondale Hobbit House

With just a few simple tools and £3,000 Simon and his father-in-law built this hobbit house in just four months.

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Simondale Hobbit House

The home is tucked into the side of a hill in Wales

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Simondale Hobbit House

All of the materials were sourced locally

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Simondale Hobbit House

This image shows the simple roof construction

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Simondale Hobbit House

Framing is comprised of oak thinnings taken from the surrounding woodland

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Simondale Hobbit House

Skylights provide natural lighting

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Simondale Hobbit House

Almost all of the interior finishings and infrastructure were made out of re-purposed materials

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Simondale Hobbit House

Straw bales in the roof, walls and floor provide further insulation.

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Simondale Hobbit House

The walls were then finished off with lime plaster

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Simondale Hobbit House

Despite being buried, the home is reasonably well-lit

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Simondale Hobbit House

Even in cold weather, thanks to the earth's natural thermal massing and insulation, the hobbit house stays warm!

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Simondale Hobbit House

Simon Dale proves that you don't have to be an architect to design and build a beautiful, cozy, low-energy home. With £3,000, a few simple tools, and a little help from his father-in-law and friends, Simon constructed an extraordinary hobbit home that has virtually no visual or environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Using locally-sourced and natural materials taken from the nearby woodlands, a common practice among designers in Wales, alternative energy sources, and a lot of imagination, the self-styled builder has created a gentle, naturally-lit family home that exists in total harmony with nature.